Non-violent offenders crowding PA prisons

July 18, 2012

Pennsylvania has put more people in prison for wrong reasons than any other state.

More than 70 percent of overcrowding comes from non-violent offenders. By doing this, it is the fastest growing cost to the state and taxpayers in Pennsylvania.

In the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, if you get a misconduct, parole will not parole you. The state parole board has a hard time releasing low-level offenders.

USA Today reported Pennsylvania could save $350 million over five years by keeping low-level offenders out of the prison system.

Look how Michigan reduced its inmate population. It invested in drug treatment programs for non-violent offenders and has achieved a big drop in its prison population. Michigan dropped its population so much that it had room for Pennsylvania's inmates and made money off of it.

Also other states are reducing their prison population by big numbers while Pennsylvania is still asleep.

Pennsylvania can achieve the same in its prison population as well. Just reducing 70 percent of non-violet offenders who are incarcerated for the wrong reason would bring down Pennsylvania's population of inmates by big numbers.

There are smarter ways of doing things and still tough on crime in Pennsylvania.

Today, Pennsylvania is a leader in sending corrections in precisely the wrong direction. Wake up, Pennsylvania.